The decisive engagement of the Bannock War was fought on the foothills of Battle Mountain, July 8, 1878. The war a - protest against White encroachment, and the last major uprising in the Pacific Northwest was started by Bannock Indians, but Egan, a Piutes, inherited command. Wounded, he led the Bannocks, Piutes and Snakes on a wide sweep out of Idaho, through Eastern Oregon and into the Blue Mountains. His hope was to win the Umatillas. But troops under Gen. Oliver O. Howard defeated him here, and a few days later he was betrayed and his scalp was delivered at camp. His followers scattered.